UPSC Science and Technology MCQs - Defence Technology and Missiles (Set 3)

Q1. Which of the following correctly distinguishes a cruise missile from a ballistic missile?

a) A cruise missile is powered for most of its flight and usually flies low within the atmosphere

b) A cruise missile follows a high arc into space before falling on the target

c) A cruise missile is powered only in its initial boost phase

d) A cruise missile cannot carry a conventional warhead

Q2. The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) was launched in 1983 under the leadership of

a) Homi J. Bhabha

b) A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

c) Vikram Sarabhai

d) Satish Dhawan

Q3. Which of the following is correct about the Prithvi missile?

a) It is a long-range intercontinental cruise missile

b) It is an anti-tank missile

c) It is a short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile

d) It is a submarine-launched cruise missile

Q4. The Agni series of missiles are

a) surface-to-air missiles for air defence

b) anti-tank guided missiles

c) air-to-air missiles for fighter jets

d) surface-to-surface ballistic missiles

Q5. BrahMos is best described as

a) a supersonic cruise missile developed jointly by India and Russia

b) a hypersonic ballistic missile developed only by DRDO

c) an anti-tank missile developed with Israel

d) a surface-to-air missile developed with France

Q6. Which of the following missile-role pairs is correctly matched?

a) Akash - Anti-tank guided missile

b) Nag - Anti-tank guided missile

c) Prithvi - Surface-to-air missile

d) Agni - Air-to-air missile

Q7. A weapon is generally called hypersonic when it travels at speeds

a) just below the speed of sound

b) between Mach 1 and Mach 2

c) above Mach 5

d) equal to the speed of light

Q8. Which of the following is correct about a scramjet engine?

a) It carries both fuel and oxygen on board like a rocket

b) It uses a large rotating compressor like a turbofan

c) It works best at speeds below Mach 1

d) It is an air-breathing engine in which combustion takes place in supersonic airflow

Q9. Stealth technology in aircraft and ships mainly aims to

a) reduce detection by radar, infrared and other sensors

b) increase the top speed of the platform

c) increase the weapon load carried

d) allow operation without fuel

Q10. A nuclear triad refers to the ability to deliver nuclear weapons from

a) three allied countries

b) land-based missiles, aircraft and submarines

c) three different types of nuclear warheads

d) army, police and paramilitary forces

Q11. Which of the following is correct about India's nuclear doctrine adopted in 2003?

a) India reserves the right to use nuclear weapons first against any state

b) India's nuclear forces are controlled solely by the armed forces

c) It is based on credible minimum deterrence and a policy of no first use

d) India has committed to give up nuclear weapons by 2030

Q12. Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology allows

a) a missile to be launched from a submarine

b) a missile to shoot down satellites

c) a missile to fly below radar cover

d) a single missile to carry several warheads that can hit different targets

Q13. Mission Shakti, conducted by India in March 2019, was a test of

a) an anti-satellite missile that destroyed a satellite in low Earth orbit

b) a nuclear-powered submarine

c) a hypersonic glide vehicle

d) a ballistic missile defence radar

Q14. Tejas, inducted into the Indian Air Force, is

a) a heavy transport aircraft bought from Russia

b) an indigenous light combat aircraft developed by ADA and built by HAL

c) an attack helicopter

d) an unmanned surveillance drone

Q15. Why is a ballistic missile defence system usually designed with two layers, such as exo-atmospheric and endo-atmospheric interceptors?

a) Because missiles cannot be detected by radar

b) Because each layer uses a different type of fuel

c) To give more than one chance to intercept an incoming missile at different altitudes

d) To allow the interceptor to return to base for reuse